Driven by gold for Michael Phelps and the women gymnastics team, NBC's prime-time coverage of the Summer Olympics Tuesday hit a new high in overnight ratings topping those earned by the record-setting opening ceremonies.

And maybe it's me, but the complaints in social media didn't seem quite as loud yesterday.

Or, maybe they were just drowned out by Phelps becoming the most decorated athlete in Olympics history.

I know I saw both Phelps events and some of the women gymnastics on live stream in real time Tuesday afternoon, but still wound up watching the tape-delay version through prime time. I wonder how many other viewers are doing that.

Here's the overnight notes from NBC Sports. With the margin this close, the opening ceremonies might wind up edging Tuesday out as the most watched night of the Olympics when the final numbers are in. But either way, Tuesday's numbers are still huge.

Again, Baltimore did not make the Top 20, which I still find puzzling despite Dan Joerres, WBAL-TV's general manager, telling me it's no big deal. Maybe not, but with Phelps evening of glory, you would think a higher percentage of viewers in Baltimore would be watching than, say, those in Washington.

But as you can see from the figures below, Washington finished 12th in percentage of viewing.

Last night NBC drew a 24.0 overnight rating and 38 share (8-11:45 p.m. ET/PT), the best overnight rating for the London Olympics to date, topping the Opening Ceremony by 4% (23.0/40).

Last night’s overnight rating is the best for the first Tuesday night of any Non-U.S. Summer Olympics in history.

With Michael Phelps status as the greatest Olympian of all time sealed Tuesday, congrats and well wishes came pouring in from every corner of the celebrity-sphere. Actors. Athletes. Musicians. Even a Playmate. Behold just a few:

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